Baywalk offers newest come-on

Baywalk offers newest come-on

Nostalgia on the menu
By Tina Santos
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:21:00 02/06/2010

MANILA, Philippines—Promenaders now have another reason to hang around the Baywalk strip on Roxas Boulevard, apart from enjoying the famed Manila Bay sunset.

Every Saturday until March 6, families and tourists on weekend strolls can now watch cultural performances for free at the tree-lined walkway right across Rajah Sulayman Park.

“Sining at Kalinangan sa Baywalk” features cultural dancers and musicians from the city’s public elementary and high schools.

The presentations, held from 5 to 7 p.m., are made even more enchanting as it uses the sun setting on Manila Bay as backdrop.

Dr. Ponciano Menguito, Division of City Schools superintendent, said the program is a revival of the program initiated by Mayor Alfredo Lim when he assumed office in 2007.

Concept

The cultural show is Lim’s concept of “wholesome” entertainment, Menguito added.

At the onset of his second term as mayor, Lim ordered the dismantling of restaurants and bars on Baywalk—a project of his predecessor, former Environment Secretary Lito Atienza—because of complaints from nearby residents about the noise created by loud band music playing in the area. Atienza is one of the contenders for the mayoral post in the coming May elections, along with former Philippine National Police chief, Avelino “Sonny” Razon.

Lim admitted that Atienza’s idea was applauded at first, but complaints started coming in after watering holes sprouted one after the other, raising the noise decibels and compounded by raucous music. He added that he banned the sale of liquor in the strip because of an ordinance prohibiting the drinking of alcoholic beverages in public places.

Revival

The mayor also blamed the stalls for adding trash to the already polluted Manila Bay. He added that an estimated P7 million in unpaid dues has yet to be collected by the Manila City Treasurer’s Office from bar owners that used to operate in Baywalk.

The Baywalk is becoming a hot election topic in Manila, with Lim and Atienza issuing opposing statements about the project.

But while Atienza vowed to reconstruct the project if he is back in the saddle, Lim is reviving entertainment in the area with the help of rondallas and student bands.

“’Sining at Kalinangan’ is a cultural program intended to entertain the public and their families,” the mayor said. “So instead of scantily-clad dancers and loud band music, it should therefore feature shows and activities fit only for family entertainment.”

Lim added that the program, which coincides with the celebration of the National Arts Month, aims to promote among the public, especially the youth, a love of their own culture and arts.

“It is also the city government’s way of giving recognition to the talents of students by highlighting the country’s rich heritage via songs and dances that are truly our own,” the mayor stressed.

“The students from our city schools will offer colorful cultural performances so unlike the ones we see daily on television, most of which promote foreign talents and styles,” he added.

Yesterday, members of the Carlos P. Garcia High School Dance Troupe performed folk dances before an enthusiastic crowd, while the Juan Luna Elementary School Choir serenaded promenaders with a medley of classic Filipino love songs.

Apart from traditional songs and dances, other groups will perform using different musical instruments, including the banduria and angklung.

Menguito took pride in saying that the performance of the participants in this year’s “Sining” is at par with professional groups.

“They’re really good performers,” he said, adding that some have already won top awards in various competitions.

The school official said he is also happy with the positive feedback he has been getting about the project.

He said that among those who dropped by when the show kicked off last week were tourists who watched in awe of the youthful performers, and elderly people who enjoyed watching and listening to the music of their generation.

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